Michael Solomon kicks off run for Providence mayor

PROVIDENCE — It has taken a lifetime for Michael Solomon to reach a decision to run for mayor.

By W. Zachary Malinowski

PROVIDENCE — It has taken a lifetime for Michael Solomon to reach a decision to run for mayor.

After seven years on the City Council and three years as council president, Solomon, 56, has decided to seek the highest elected position in the state’s largest city. In an interview on Tuesday at his restaurant, Wes’ Rib House in Olneyville Square, the genial businessman talked about his reasons for tossing his hat in the ring.

“I think it’s a good opportunity for me,” he said. “I’ve worked closely with the mayor the last three years. I think that we have put the city back on track.”

Solomon was referring to his work with Mayor Angel Taveras in reducing the city’s $110-million structural deficit that, Taveras said, threatened Providence with bankruptcy. They renegotiated contracts with the police, fire and municipal workers and worked out agreements to have the city’s colleges and hospitals help pay down the debt.

The city ended the 2013 fiscal year with an operating budget surplus of $1.6 million, but a general fund cumulative deficit of $9.8 million.

Solomon said that he has endorsed Taveras as the Democratic candidate for governor.

The council president joins a growing list of candidates looking to succeed Taveras, who is in his first four-year term. They are Jorge Elorza, Brett Smiley, Lorne Adrain, Chris Young and Daniel Harrop.

But Solomon has a huge lead when it comes to fundraising. Records from the state Board of Elections show that through Sept. 30, he raised $516,773, three times as much as Elorza, who is a distant second, with $172,000. Of that amount, Elorza, a Roger Williams University law school professor and former Providence housing court judge, loaned his campaign $50,000.

Solomon, a lifelong city resident, has Peter Baptista, former Taveras finance director and campaign spokesman, running his campaign, along with Josh Padwa, son of Jeffrey Padwa, the Providence city solicitor.

He also has an eclectic group of supporters, including a majority of the 15-member City Council: Seth Yurdin, Samuel D. Zurier, Nicholas J. Narducci Jr., Michael J. Correia, Wilbur W. Jennings Jr., Carmen Castillo, David A. Salvatore, Terrence M. Hassett and Sabina Matos.

At the State House, a number of members of the city’s House delegation back his campaign. They include Representatives Thomas Palangio, John DeSimone, Anastasia Williams, Scott Slater, Grace Diaz, Joseph Almeida and John M. Carnevale.

Solomon and his wife, Denise, raised three daughters in Elmhurst, and his father, Anthony Solomon, served as state treasurer and ran for governor in 1984.

Michael Solomon said that, if elected, he would like the city to invest $250 million over 10 years on school infrastructure improvements. A proponent of economic development, he also said that he would like to see the vacant Bank of America building on Kennedy Plaza, better known as the Superman building, turned into condominiums or micro apartments. He pointed out that the city’s vacancy rate for apartments is less than 5 percent and there is a waiting list to get into micro-apartments at The Arcade on Westminster Street.

In a prepared statement that will be unveiled at a news conference Wednesday morning, Solomon is pleased that he worked with Taveras to reduce the city’s structural deficit, but he emphasized that the city remains “fragile.”

“Providence is at a critical crossroads,” he said. “We have come too far. We have worked too hard. And, we have achieved too much to turn back now. Providence needs to keep moving forward. And that’s why I’m here today to announce my candidacy to be the next mayor of Providence.”